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Hypermileing

Listen, just because prices at the pump have come down a wee bit, don’t think for one New York minute that I’m walking around with a fixed smile on my face, singing praises to the ‘conservative powers that be’ for a job well done! HECK NO! I still grumble expletives, whenever I pull up to the pump and have to dish out money for gas that could have gone towards my kid’s college fund. Complacency is a missing chip in my makeup. Although gas prices had dropped an average 15 cents a gallon nationally in the past two weeks, guess what, they’ve crept up again, as tropical storm Gustav (at presstime) threatens off shore oil rigs and coastal refineries. What are we to do? Well, you’ve come to the right place, let me introduce myself—I am a hypermiler.

 

I’ve been a hypermiler since way back when, before the hype. I am not obsessive about it and of course, by no means, would I do anything dangerous nor would I attempt to break any laws!  Not familiar with the term?  Hypermilers try to get the most bang for their buck by maximizing fuel economy in whatever vehicle they are driving. There are some folks out there, who really get carried away with hypermiling and would do anything to more than double-plus the mpg average on their vehicles (someone key up the Twilight Zone theme song). Again, I always put safety first, so here are some suggestions for reaping the benefits of hypermiling without doing yourself in or going to jail!!!

 

          

    Thou shall not idle, it’s a real gas waster!

 

What’s with the jackrabbit starts? Stop it, who are you impressing?  

 

This might be an old wives tale but I would swear on a stack of bibles that running the air conditioner takes a toll on my fuel economy.

 

Keeping your tires properly inflated might only have a teeny positive effect on fuel economy but every little bit helps. 

 

Don’t wait until you hear that annoying tapping noise, change your engine oil and filter on schedule.  Some oils contain additives that can reduce friction and may increase a car’s fuel economy by about 3 percent.

 

Make friends with your cruise control system, then use it wisely, it can keep you from constantly making unnecessary speed changes. 

 

See a red light or stop sign down yonder? Judge your surroundings first, and if it’s safe, take your foot off the gas pedal and coast to a stop (many hypermilers are into coasting all over the place but this might not always be the safest route to go). Green light—accelerate slowly. Aggressive driving, hard braking and quick or constant accelerations will certainly take a toll on your pockets at the pumps. 

 

For Pete’s sake lighten the load! Do ya really have to lug the kitchen sink around with you everywhere you go? Your vehicle is not a storage facility, the lighter the load, the better the fuel economy.

 

Attention all you speed demons! Unless you have a relative who owns a gas station, bring it down a notch. Drive at the posted speed limits or less (if there is no one else behind you), this is a tried and true fuel saver.

 

Driving in a lower gear will almost always burn more fuel.

 

Thinking about a fuel additive for your engine? Forgetaboutit! If there really was a miracle tonic for making that gallon of gas stretch, we’d all own stock in the company.

 

Lastly, if you REALLY want to save at the pumps--walk, jog, skip, bicycle, inline skate, take public transportation or just simply, bum a ride! Happy trails!

 

--Car Chick